Pediatric Chest Imaging

This policy covers pediatric chest imaging modalities (plain radiography, CT, MRI/MRA/CTA, selected nuclear/PET and unlisted procedures) for a wide range of pediatric chest conditions and symptom complexes — e.g., lymphadenopathy, mediastinal mass, hemoptysis, cystic fibrosis/bronchiectasis, bronchiolitis, pneumonia, solitary pulmonary nodule, tuberculosis/PPD, asthma, congenital chest disease, pectus deformities, vascular malformations and breast masses. Advanced imaging is limited to children with documented active clinical signs or symptoms after appropriate clinical evaluation (history, physical, labs, basic imaging), many PET/advanced codes are rarely used or excluded in pediatrics, unlisted codes are generally limited to radiation planning/surgical software, atypical presentations require physician review, and repeat studies are discouraged unless progression or management change is demonstrated.

"Pulmonary Arteriovenous Malformations (PEDCH-14."